Sterling Standard from Sterling, Illinois · Page 3

SfCRLYNG. ILLINOIS, TUESDAY, OCTOSCft 31 , ' ATWEHftREMENT.) KEPT us out of* war" is offefed by the Democratic Party as a statement of a supreme \ accomplishment. s That slogan is false. To accept it without thought or reason is dangerous to the life of the nation. *— . H *• ' f * For ^months we have been con- ' . ducting a border war with Mexico* At Vera Cruz we demanded that our flag be saluted. The demand battle followed. We withdrew Without. the salute, bringing nineteen of oar dead with us and * leaving oar honor behind; arid •- ;"- - . . • *^ . - - >• V*<| - . to this day the salute demanded has not been fired. Theweakness of Mexico, hot the strength of the United States, is all that has prevented our act of war from being turned into the rious fact of wan If the slaughter of American ci ti- zens-^-men, women and children-— by armed [ trobps^lf TfieTcilling^of /American soldiers by the soldiers j. ; : _ • " "~ " "" .......... ; "":' ". " ~ ...... ~~" •."•••• " j " . ........ *~ """""• ""~~, •- •""- ~"~ ..... ' v " of another nation, if the sacking of our towns is not war, what is it? JL The Judge Advocate General of (TV* l,irt< 'A T, ^-?>V KTl TfKKMK .VT ) icans say it is wan Wilson's acts show it is war, but Wilson's » voice says if is peace. • The Truth is that it is mot^e than war. It is war without honor and murder mthout reparation. It is a condition that makes every true citizen ashamed of the spectacle we have become in the eyes of other nations. Wilson's course vit in Mexico and border Hzed civil war war with us} The vacillating and irresolute policy of the present administration has brought humiliation upon this country, both at,homeland abroad. \ We have been at war; we are now at war; many livesIjbave beea lost; Jour honor has been besmirched, and yet the Democratic Party cries to the nation "He kept us out of Thefactis that he has neglected our greatest treasures — the lives of our citizens and the honor of our country.; •:.". ....... ' ' .\ ............ i It is the world war in ]EJurope;r not the acts of the Wilson adminis- 1 i " - * ••"•'-,- tration, which has kept us out ofT international complications .that would have sorely tried our,courage, • ...... " '•> . ." ' % ((.. • and our strength. Just prior Jo the outbreak of the war there was forming a combination of European notions that welttojy the & mand protection of the lives and vast property of European def- zens in Mexico, to declare that these European nations'" would of arms if we did not. would that have meant? It^would have meant that we must adopt axletermined policy to enforce order in Mexico, which was $ie only duty consistent with the stewardship which we assumed un-, der iJie Monroe Doetrinef-or it would have meant war or the sur? render, of : jthe^Mpriroe DoctrineJ -_____Z_T __„_ It was the accident of war in 'Europe which then prevented retribution for the policies of the administration in Mexico. When the war is over those {nations will again press their claims and we will face the con- 'sequences of the Wilson policy of watchful waiting. Have we sunk so low that we can approve such a policy? Have e become so morally flahhy that' we will tolerate its cdntinuance? »; This, administration has created war. It has created causes for future serious international friction; 1 Notes and words and shades of meaning born of rhetoric rather thanstraight forward patriotic sincerity, have marked the course of our relations with foreign nations. 1 Force of character, a fair and honorable course, would have closed the debate which facility of language open. Force of character would have stopped murder on the highrsea^ Does the low estatk-ifito which we have fallen among nations make , a foundation upon which to build prestige for this country or safety and moral 1 staminaforour children? < _ •''••. . ^ . . . .- . 1 It is ou r tradition to honorably keep ottt of war but not to spine: lessljr creep inter war Mr. Wilson has not kept us out of war. Mr, Wilson has put iis in to war. M yv~ Wilson is making L. war upon the moral fiber of this «a-! jtion. / "A Natior Which Does Not Protect Its Own Citizens HasJUready Begun to Die." • * ' - . «r - mjir~~. — • „ ~ —. ; Q i Republican Rational Publicity Oomgutjxje..